Having owned a Legend and two Thunderbird Sports and having ridden a Tbird (older 5 speed) for an extended period of time, I'd vote for the Tbird Sport. While the Tbird Sport is stable under almost any conditions, the others have a distinct tendency to pogo their way around corners when the pavement gets ratty.

Just my US$0.02 on the topic.

I fitted a Wilbur rear shock to my T'bird, far better handling than a Sport shock. The front suspension on the Sport is better but I have a 4 pot caliper on the standard T'bird that I find every bit as good as the twin sport set up.

Just on the matter of the starter motor. Yes, there is a sprag clutch but due to the amount of wear rendering the starter motor unservicable at 50k I wonder if it provides the same isolation as a bendix. My brushes could have been replaced but the wear on the commutator was way beyond repair. To machine the groove would have left next to nothing on the commutator strips. I dont think I have been unduly harsh in its use, although it has done a lot of short run city riding. As for the battery condition it has always been well maintained and kept at a good voltage.
I don't mean to sound too critical but judging from other posts on this site and also from discussions with other riders I think that to have a good run with Gill is probably more a matter of good luck than any thing else.
Maybe I am just pissed off because I am spending my holidays dealing with fixing the the bike rather than out there riding it.

I fitted a Wilbur rear shock to my T'bird, far better handling than a Sport shock. The front suspension on the Sport is better but I have a 4 pot caliper on the standard T'bird that I find every bit as good as the twin sport set up.

You can set anything up the way you want, you just need £$

I suppose you can re-spring the fronts and put in heavier oil to do the trick as well?

I fitted a Wilbur rear shock to my T'bird, far better handling than a Sport shock. The front suspension on the Sport is better but I have a 4 pot caliper on the standard T'bird that I find every bit as good as the twin sport set up.

You can set anything up the way you want, you just need £$

My point is that, if you buy the Tbird Sport, you don't have to spend the extra money to get a good handling bike; you just bought one.

My point is that, if you buy the Tbird Sport, you don't have to spend the extra money to get a good handling bike; you just bought one.

I much prefer the riding position of the standard Thunderbird and am a sucker for the chrome and alloy engine. I know black engines are in vouge at the moment but don't think they look right in a retro bike.

In another 10 years when the powder coated has started failing on the black and silver engines I can see a premium being asked for early T'birds with a plain alloy engine.

The riding position of the TBS is all day comfortable. Handling is far superior, the fully adjustable forks and shock are amazing good for stock, brakes are reasonable with the dual discs, and the sound and feel of the triple is intoxicating. If I could only have one bike, it would be my TBS.

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